For my health, my well-being ... and for Asgard

I recently posted to my Facebook account about how I’ve struggled, like so many, with anxiety for much of my adult life.

It’s been an on-and-off thing. A decade ago, it controlled me. I couldn’t drive in traffic. I couldn’t go to places with large crowds. Sometimes I couldn’t even concentrate at work.

Following my brother’s death, my weight ballooned and my anxiety with it. One day, I decided enough was enough and I decided to introduce exercise into my life.

That was the first phase of getting control of my anxiety.

Phase 2 came when my family doctor at that time suggested I try neurofeedback, which had been showing positive results for people with anxiety and depression. I started going to neuro sessions at the Kingston Institute for Psychotherapy and Neurofeedback, which almost immediately proved effective in helping me get my anxiety under control. In fact, to this day, when I start to feel overwhelmed by stress or the many side projects I’m involved with, I return to neurofeedback to help keep my anxiety in check.

But the key, I believe, to me winning this battle has been the constant presence of exercise in my life.

Last year, when my weight began to creep up again, I ventured out into the city to do workouts at various gyms and with trainers throughout the city. That’s when I met my friend and trainer, Farr Ramsahoye. He was one of many trainers who approached me to try a workout (two, actually) with him as part of my fitness series. That was several pounds, tons of sweat and many months ago.

In January, Farr and I set out on a journey that I can only describe as enriching, successful and incredibly educational. And one that continues to contribute to my well-being, physically and emotionally.

While there has been seemingly no limit to the various exercises and challenges Farr brings in his bag of tricks, I’ve also learned a lot about myself along the way.

I’ve learned that my years of simply going to the gym and doing cardio left my knees and legs in need of a total rebuild. They’re currently stronger and more pain-free than they’ve been at any point in the past six or seven years.

I’ve learned that my mobility was about a 2 on a scale of 10 when we kicked this training off in the new year. Tying my shoe was a challenge in January. I can now bend over and put both palms on the ground in front of me, with almost no effort.

I’ve learned that while I was pumping heavy iron and building up a pretty strong chest, it was at the expense of a lot of other problems, such as my back, core, hips and shoulders and elbows. Thanks to Farr’s “rebuild,” my back is stronger than it’s ever been, for the first time in my entire life I can flex and feel abdominal muscles, and many of the other nagging aches and pains I used to experience are now gone.

It’s hard to put into words how much I savour my time working with Farr at 247 Fitness. Our training sessions are always challenging, rarely repetitive and each session is designed with a specific purpose, one that is meant to translate into using our bodies functionally and properly in everyday use.

This week, for example, Farr’s training included what he dubbed hammer and shield training, in which we use a sledgehammer and mace in our training. We affectionately refer to the sledgehammer as Thor’s Mjolnir, channelling our inner god of thunder while we use it to improve our shoulder and core functionality, and at the same time challenging our cardiovascular and building toward bigger and better uses for those skills down the road. Farr perfectly paints the image of an ancient warrior using a sword in battle as he carefully watches my form and execution.

Most recently, I’ve noticed a significant increase in my core strength and my energy levels. At random times in the day and evening, I feel a spike in my energy and the desire to work out. While out shopping recently, I mentally made a note of how my leg strength made walking feel almost effortless. And while doing presses under Farr’s guidance, I can now do so while straightening both legs out, then raising them just off the floor. Full body workout to the max! FYI, when we first worked out and attempted anything that challenged the core while doing something else, I couldn’t get breaths. Now, I can breathe through it while pushing increasingly heavier weights.

Working out once seemed to me like homework or writing an exam. Necessary, but a lot of work. That’s no longer the case. It’s truly one of the best parts of my day, and, as mentioned early, a big contributor to my mental well-being. Beginning next week, I’ll be working with a nutritionist, who will be helping me with some of my troubling eating habits, stomach issues and more. More on that in future columns.